Ava DuVernay Barbie, a Platinum Label doll, is limited to 999 dolls worldwide. |
In the wee-wee hours (almost 4 a.m. CST to be exact) of December 29, 2015, I decided hesitantly to check personal email on my personal desktop computer before beginning my work day on the company's computer. I was hesitant because the end of the month is always hectic and I only had one more working day in the year, having scheduled time off for the remaining days of 2015. Well I threw caution to the wind and I am so-glad-I-did!
As I opened Outlook, an email filtered through from a fellow collector, whom I will refer to as TL. Her email informed that she had just ordered the Ava DuVernay Barbie from Amazon . com and just had to "let another black doll lover know." I am so grateful she chose me! I could not navigate to Amazon . com fast enough to enter "Ava DuVernay Barbie" in the search box to see if quantities were still available. There were and I hurriedly one-click shopped, which was followed by a huge sigh of relief. I kept going back to the "status of your orders" page to double-check that the order had actually been placed. An email confirmation from Amazon . com followed. "Yes!"
I am sorry that I could not take the time to post the information about the doll in a blog post, but as indicated, I needed to begin my work day and I knew by the time I published the blog, the doll might be sold out resulting in unnecessary disappointment for those who desired it but again missed out. I did share it with a few people in one of my Facebook groups who were as fortunate as I am, (thanks to TL), to successfully place an order.
Thank you, once again TL for the heads up. By that afternoon, just as I assumed, all dolls had been sold.
I took several pictures of this difficult-to-own, super-limited Platinum Label doll which are shared below.
The first five photos were taken with the doll in the box.
Side view of the two-strand twists |
Another in-the-box photo was taken at an angle to eliminate as much flash as possible. |
Close-up in-box photo |
The graphics on the box liner create a perfect director's setting with cameras and lights that appear three-dimensional. |
Ava wears a black long-sleeved turtleneck shirt... |
...denim pants, and red and white sneakers for comfort. |
Almost as stylish as the real Ava DuVernay, on one wrist, the doll wears a copper-tone chain bracelet with one disk-shaped charm. On the other wrist... |
...she wears a faux wood bangle. |
Here's another look at the director's chair. |
The back of the box has a beautiful portrait of Ava DuVernay and offers a brief bio, which I have copied below. |
AVA
D Nominated
for two Academy Awards and four Golden
Globes,
writer/director Ava DuVernay’s most recent film
u “Selma”
chronicled the historic 1965 voting rights
campaign
led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She
won the
V Best
Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in
2012
for her acclaimed feature “Middle of Nowhere.”
E Her
previous narrative and documentary work includes
the
feature film “I Will Follow” and the documentaries
R “Venus
vs.,” “My Mic Sounds Nice” and “This is the Life.”
In
2010, she founded ARRAY, an independent film
N distribution
and resource organization for filmmakers of
color
and women filmmakers. Prior to her
directorial
A career,
DuVernay worked as a film marketer and
publicist
for more than 14 years through her company,
Y the
DuVernay Agency. She was born, raised
and loves
life in
Los Angeles, California.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Shortly after the first dolls sold out at TheBarbieCollector . com, this photo circulated on Facebook of the lovely actress Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), posing with her daughter's Ava DuVernay doll. I was happy Ms. Davis was able to get one for her daughter.
Marsai Martin and her Ava DuVernay doll |
Deb and her Ava DuVernay doll |
dbg
Check out my eBay listings here.
Debbie, I am so happy for you. This doll sure is a precious one since she is not just beautiful but she represents a very talented woman. Thanks for sharing the joy of other collectors with us through their photos with their doll.
ReplyDeleteKeep having fun!
Arlette
Thank you, Arlette! The hunt and chase for dolls continues (but I'm good for a while).
Delete:-)
dbg
Congrats on getting this doll! She is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phyllis!
Deletedbg
How brilliant that you managed to together one of these!
ReplyDeleteI love her hair, and that director's chair is a great accessory.
A blessing, a favor, being in the right place at the right time brought Ava to me.
DeleteI love her hair too and the fact that it is not stiff. That chair is a perfect accessory.
dbg
What a stunning doll and I agree about the director's chair...it looks so well-made! Great to see your face...your skin is flawless and beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteMattel did an excellent job capturing Ms. DuVernay in this portrait doll. I am really impressed.
DeleteThank you for the compliment on my skin. I don't look a day over 70, am I right?
:-) That's a line from a Geico commercial.
(I am not 70, yet... a decade more to go.)
dbg
Congrats! I have faith that if she was meant to be in my collection, a miracle will happen for me, just like it happened for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks! That's a great way to look at it, Vanessa. I would keep checking Amazon.com Additional dolls might be offered there.
Deletedbg
I forgot to mention how much I adore Diane on black-ish. Did you see it yesterday? She was so good.
DeleteDang... I missed it. I have it set to record all new episodes and it is also one of the ABC On Demand shows, so I'll be able to watch it later. Thanks for the reminder. I love that little girl.
Deletedbg
Make sure you watch it all the way to the end. She is featured at the very end with Tyra. That's all I will say.
DeleteOkay, I will. I think I must have had it on that channel before I fell asleep because I vaguely remember waking up, seeing her with Tyra, and falling back to sleep.
Deletedbg
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteIt's me (TL :-)). Thank you for the shout out! I am thrilled with my Ava and so happy for you and any others who were also able to snag one. She is beautiful!!
Hi TL :-)
DeleteYou're welcome, and thank you again for letting me know about the doll. I hope additional quantities return to Amazon.com that are NOT priced from $350 to $500 like the ones on there now. These sellers probably purchased the dolls from Amazon at retail and now have them relisted at these outrageous prices!
dbg
So glad you were able to order one, and that you like her so much IRL. I ordered mine from Amazon on December 7, and the shipment is still "in preparation." Hope this gorgeous doll arrives soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteTroy please follow up with Amazon to find out about your order. It should not still be in the preparation process.
Deletedbg
Good news! My order status has been changed to "Arriving Today"! That normally means it will be here by tomorrow. :-)
DeleteThat's great news, Troy! She might just show up today.
Deletedbg
Congratulations! Have you seen the prices on Ebay!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, I have seen the prices on eBay as well as the prices on Amazon from their registered sellers. Ridiculous!
DeleteRetail was $65, which is what I paid. Some people are asking as much as $500!
dbg
Wow, this is simply terrific news! Im so happy for you. I know how much you wanted her in your collection. I've been checking Amazon sporadically for weeks and had all but given up. You've inspired me to keep checking. She's a lovely doll.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jewell! Yes, keep checking. Warning: There are some on their now offered by Amazon sellers at extremely inflated prices.
Deletedbg
I agree with Debbie. Just keep checking Amazon to see if they offer more at retail. I had her on my wish list and I don't know what made me decide to look at it that day, but I am so glad I did!!
DeleteCongrats and thanks for sharing so many photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Muff and you're welcome! (Wish my photos were as good as yours!)
Deletedbg